China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Jonathan Powell, the British prime minister's national security adviser, in Beijing on Monday. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Iran, the Ukraine crisis and other issues.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's historic and successful visit to China in January has received positive responses from both countries and the international community.

This shows that building a long-term, consistent and comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK is in line with the times and the will of the people, he said.

It also shows that challenges can be managed and problems addressed as long as both sides work in the same direction and conduct constructive dialogue, Wang added.

He called for both sides to implement the common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries, conduct exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation across the board, and effectively manage differences to advance the stable development of bilateral relations.

For his part, Powell said the UK is ready to follow up on the prime minister's visit, strengthen communication and cooperation, and work with China to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership.

During the meeting, Wang and Powell also exchanged views on the situation in Iran, the Ukraine crisis and other issues.

Wang elaborated on China's objective and impartial stance, noting that the spillover effects of the Iran situation are widening and that a protracted conflict will only inflict more casualties and graver repercussions.

He stressed that what all parties should do now is not to add fuel to the fire, but to tackle the root cause and bring the issue back onto the track of political settlement through dialogue and negotiation.